MSc Occupational Psychology

The MSc Occupational Psychology programme at the University of Strathclyde equips students with the skills to apply psychology in professional settings—assessing people, designing policies, improving wellbeing, guiding organisational change, and using analytics to support decisions. It is BPS-accredited and recognised in Scotland as a key route to professional practice in psychology.

The course develops understanding of how people behave at work, how to assess and improve employee wellbeing, and how to influence systems and policies to benefit both individuals and organisations. The programme runs full-time over 12 months and offers CIPD accreditation as a route to associate membership.

Core teaching covers seven key domains of work and organisational psychology: assessment at work, learning and development, leadership and motivation, wellbeing, work design, change and development, and methods and analytics. Students may also choose electives such as data science, health analytics, or organisational development.

Learning is delivered through lectures, seminars, workshops, case studies, and empirical projects. Students complete research and applied assignments, culminating in a dissertation. Assessment includes essays, reports, presentations, and research projects, with an emphasis on feedback, reflection, and peer review.

The University of Strathclyde is located in Glasgow, Scotland, on the John Anderson Campus near the city centre. The university is known for its close industry links and commitment to practical, applied learning. Many programmes are co-designed with employers and include opportunities for internships, consultancy projects, or real-world applications.

For this MSc, students benefit from exposure to both academic expertise and workplace practices in areas like human resources, assessment, change management, wellbeing, and leadership development.

Grade Requirements:

• Applicants are expected to hold a degree (usually in psychology) with a Graduate Basis for Chartership (GBC) from the BPS, or an equivalent qualification. Non-GBC candidates may be considered for a non-accredited variant.
• Applicants with a lower degree and with demonstrable work experience will be considered on an individual basis.

English Proficiency:

• For international students, English language proficiency is required, with a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 overall and no component lower than 5.5.

The annual tuition fee for international students studying the MSc Occupational Psychology at the University of Strathclyde is £29,350 for full-time study. Students should also anticipate an annual tuition increase of up to 10%.

Strathclyde offers multiple postgraduate and master’s scholarships. On its postgraduate scholarships page, the university lists faculty scholarship awards of £1,400 for UK students demonstrating academic excellence, as well as international excellence awards for overseas students. The Glasgow 850 International Masters Scholarships will give £5,000 off tuition for eligible self-funded, non-EU students in certain faculties, including Humanities and Social Sciences, which may apply to this programme. The Dean’s International Excellence Awards also exist in various faculties for outstanding candidates. Students should look at Strathclyde’s Scholarships and Funding pages for deadlines and specific eligibility.

Graduates of MSc Occupational Psychology from the University of Strathclyde can pursue roles such as:

• Occupational Psychologist
• Learning and Development Manager
• Talent Management Specialist
• Organisational Development Consultant
• Psychometrics Specialist

Applications for the MSc Occupational Psychology are submitted through the University of Strathclyde’s postgraduate application portal. For assistance during the process, students can contact one of our experienced counsellors at AHZ.